The Toe Jam & Earl franchise is an anomaly to the trend of hyper-realism and violence in video games, and this latest addition to the series excels at creating another gloriously fun and wacky cartoon experience. The goal of Toe Jam & Earl III: Mission to Earth is to recover the stolen Twelve Sacred Albums of Funk by exploring various levels on Earth, befriending Earthlings, and finding keys and presents to aid in the journey. The real fun of the game, however, is its funk theme. You can convert unfunky Earthlings to the ways of funk, and there are inspired funky touches throughout the game, including a gospel vocal trio that sings whenever a new level loads. The game doesn't take itself seriously, and to enjoy it, a competitive gaming mindset should be set aside. In two-player mode, the game promotes teamwork by allowing players to share health (just high-five each other) and immunity to attacks. The game's combination of 80s funk and overall goofiness won't appeal to everyone, but it's an ideal mix for parents in search of a game that they can enjoy with their kids (the game is rated Teen for animated blood and violence, but the gore is all cartoonish) and anyone else with an offbeat sense of humor. --Sung Nicholas Kim Pros: Excellent 3-D graphics Kitschy fun for all ages Cons: Erratic split-screen view in the two-player mode Older gamers may find the game too simple